Monday, September 10, 2012

I Didn't See It Coming...




 
 
 
In the martial arts style I train in, TaeKwonDo, we do something called free sparring or padded fighting.  It's a way of perfecting our skills in defending ourselves against an attacker.  Unlike these two, we wear protective gear and use light contact which takes far more control of mind or body than just slugging it out. But sometimes you don't see a punch or kick coming or you don't block in time and you get hit where you least expect it.
 
I remember early in my training when I was still working out with my son.  He always had superior skill to my own but I enjoyed sparring with him because it challenged me to think on my feet and deal with whatever came my way.  One day, however, we were sparring during class and I must not have been paying attention as well as I should because I let my guard down...I dropped my hands...as he was doing a roundhouse kick and I stopped his attack to my head...with my MOUTH.  Needless to say that was a lesson learned from the split lip and permanent scar I have from being able to say "I didn't see it coming".
 
Writing can be like sparring sometimes...
 
We try to arm ourselves with strong writing skills, workshops, and books on how to perfect our craft, but sometimes it's not enough.  Sometimes we don't see it coming and we are hit by those pesky writing demons hell-bent on trying to beat us down.  Things like rejection letters, writer's block, self-doubt, and others sneak in a punch or a kick until we feel like all we are doing is crouching in a corner, cowering. 
 
But we have got to remember we are stronger that that!  We come from a long line of champion authors who are in our corner.  Encouraging us.  Cheering us on.  Lifting us up and reminding us we chose this path for a reason.  Simply put...we have no choice but to write.  It's in our blood...in our very souls...and no silly, self-made demons can deter our focus on this path to publication.
 
So I say bring on the rejection letters...it only proves my work is making it's way in the real world and one day it WILL find a home.  Bring on the writer's block...it will challenge me to be more creative in how I look at my work and maybe it is a gentle message to take a few moments to renew my own spirit before carrying on.  And I refuse to be brought down by self-doubt when I can reach out to this wonderful writing community I am a member of...I KNOW my "sparring" partners have my back and will lift me up while encouraging me to step back into the ring.
 
The only thing I have to worry about is this guy...
 
 
 



18 comments:

  1. Duck and cover.Write on. And on.

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    1. Lol, Janet...true enough...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  2. This is an excellent post! I loved sparring when I was in Tae Kwon Do and I love your comparison to writing. So true

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    1. Hi Heather! I'm glad you liked it...I try...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  3. Dodge, duck, weave, and defend, those are the fundamentals to surrviving a fight. ;)

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    1. Hi Erik! And sometimes LIFE...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  4. I adore this post, I needed this post. Thank you!

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    1. Awww, Russo, you're welcome! We all have ups and downs...especially if we are newer writers and I thought today's post might mean something to someone other than myself...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  5. Great post, Donna!

    Kristen

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    1. Hi Kristen! Thank you for your kind words. You will find I like writing analogies between writing and just about anything else...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  6. This is advice that I should remember. Thanks for posting.

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    1. Hi Jessica! I'm glad you found my post helpful...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  7. So true. Those little demons go after us the moment we stop keeping an eye out for them. :-) Hi from GUTGAA!

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    1. Hi Misha and welcome to my blog! I agree...it's a balance between keeping an eye on them and STARING...:~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  8. Just keep popping back up and going at it again. That's the name of the game!

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    1. Hi Genevieve! It's kinda like the time I was holding a board for someone to do a run jump side kick and when they did it, I went flying through the air and almost hit a wall...;~) I got back up and kept going...lol...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  9. Those little writing Ninjas are sneaky. This post is inspiring. If we must write (as you say we have no choice), we must fight. You are right, we have a strong writing community with many champion authors. Those writing Ninjas can sneak around all they want but we have so much writing heart that they can never defeat us.

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    1. Hi Alayne! Thank you for your kind words...it amazes me that ANYONE would doubt their own writing ability when they are part of this fabulous writing community...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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